One of Cornwall’s oldest hotels has closed after almost 110 years of welcoming guests from far and wide.

Whitsand Bay Hotel closed last month after seeing a "signifcant downturn in trade" in recent years.

Earlier this year, plans were submitted to transform the hotel into 18 apartments.

Following its closure, the hotel is now selling a range of items, including sofas, chairs, tables and mirrors, via Facebook Marketplace.

Previously, Paul Phillips, owner of Whitsand Bay Hotel at Portwrinkle, said a proposal to convert the Grade II listed building into flats had turned him into a local “public enemy number one”.

He added that a nearby housing development by the former owner, Jess Earle, had contributed to killing off the business.

The 32-bed Whitsand Bay Hotel

But Mr Earle, whose family owned the hotel for 45 years, condemned the redevelopment plan and denied that his work was to blame.

Property developer Christina Kusytsch has submitted a planning application to convert the 32-bedroom Whitsand Bay Hotel into 18 one and two-bedroom apartments, and is also seeking listed building consent.

If the applications are approved, she is expected to buy the hotel for £2.9 million from the Phillips family.

A golf course leased to the hotel has been taken back under control of the freeholder, the Antony estate on the Rame peninsula, and will continue to operate.

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The planning application states: “Since its relocation to its present situation from Torpoint in 1909, the existing building has been used as a hotel, currently with some 32 bedrooms which are all en-suite.

“Over this period, it has been a relatively successful business keeping pace with the market expectations and with reasonable profitability, but in recent years there has been a significant downturn in trade.

It continued: “In brief the use as an hotel has become uneconomic and a new use is proposed as eighteen one and two-bedroom apartments which would enable the building to be restored to its former glory.”

The owners said the 32-bedroom Whitsand Bay Hotel at Portwrinkle is no longer viable as a business because it needs too much work

The application has received mixed responses on Cornwall Council’s planning portal.

Objecting to the plans, Mr W Honey said: “This is the only hotel in the area, and once converted to flats, there would be going back.

“The swimming pool is the only one in the area, and would leave us with no swimming facilities without travelling a great distance.

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Denise Hayes said: “I have been visiting the hotel with my family for many years and often use the restaurant. We have had many enjoyable celebrations here.

“If the restaurant closes where are the tenants and people who are using the holiday flats going to eat? The nearest pub is in a residential village with not enough parking to cover the needs of the people who live here without encouraging more traffic, noise and pollution.”

Others have shared their support for the proposals.

Justin Bailey said: “It is obviously apparent over the last few years that the building is falling into disrepair and needs a huge cash injection for the hotel to remain viable in any shape or form.”

He added: “From what I can see and hear the hotel will close whatever in the near future as it cannot be sold as a going concern, therefore, surely it would be better to see such a fantastic listed building not become derelict, like so many others, and still be put to use and not become an eyesore.”

Philip Batt echoed his sentiment.

He said: “I would hate to see this building go to rack and ruin. It has decayed significantly over the last 5 years while the owners have battled to make a go of it, despite the building sites all around.

“This proposal to me would seem to be a Godsend, restoring the structure to its full glory and allowing the owners to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. The alternative - a family effectively imprisoned in a Victorian ruin - is surely unthinkable.”

Looking out to sea at Whitsand Bay by Iain Haggis

Tom Taylor, conservation adviser for the Victorian Society, raised concerns over the loss of historic features.

He urged the council to withhold consent and request further information from the developers.

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In a letter to the council, he wrote: “This application proposes extensive alterations to the interior of this Grade 11 listed hotel. These alterations involve some demolition and much sub-division, and are documented at length on the plans provided.

“The alterations will clearly have a serious effect on the character of the interiors of the building and will furthermore inevitably result in the loss not only of the spatial coherence and historic arrangements of these interiors, but also many small areas of historic fabric and decoration.

“The insertion of kitchens and bathrooms in areas where there have never previously been kitchens and bathrooms is potentially very disruptive to the historic finishes, both immediately, though the insertion of the necessary services, and in the longer term.”